SEATTLE –Amid what has become an increasingly dire season for the Eagles, LeSean McCoy remains the brightest spot on the team. McCoy extended his lead as the league's most prolific rusher Thursday night, running for 84 yards on 17 carries, adding 49 yards receiving and scoring two more touchdowns. McCoy has scored in 11 of the team's 12 games this year and his 15 touchdowns on the season trail only Steve Van Buren's 17 for most touchdowns in a season in Eagles history.
Thursday night, McCoy set a career high for rushing yards in a season, surpassing his 1,080 rushing yards in 2010. His first touchdown came in the second quarter on a 1-yard plunge thanks in part to a nice block by fullback Owen Schmitt. McCoy's second score came early in the fourth quarter on a 2-yard reception, a shovel pass from Vince Young.
McCoy's production on the night was even more impressive considering what has been a stout Seahawks run defense. Coming into the game, the Seahawks had allowed only 3.5 yards per rush, fourth-best in the league.
But the Eagles' downfall, as it's been throughout much of the season, was turnovers. Vince Young threw four interceptions, the most crippling of which came with the team trailing by 10 points but driving deep into Seattle territory with just under five minutes remaining. On a 1st-and-10 from the Seattle 22-yard-line, Young attempted a swing pass to McCoy, who was blanketed by Seahawks linebacker David Hawthorne. Hawthorne caught the pass in stride and ran it the other direction for a 77-yard interception return.
Ever the team player, McCoy tried to take blame for the play.
"I looked back and I looked at the defender because he was right on me," he said. "That's my fault. I need to be more aware at all times. You never know if he's going to throw it or not.
"You can't turn the ball over. It's kind of haunted us our whole season."
Of course, with the team now at 4-8, McCoy's sterling season loses a bit of its luster. Still, the third-year player has emerged as not only the team's most productive player, but one of its leaders. In the locker room following the game, he took umbrage at questions attacking head coach Andy Reid.
"He takes a lot of blame for a lot of things that he shouldn't," McCoy said. "As players, you have to dig deep and get things done. I don't fault him at all.
"He puts us in the position to make plays and we don't do it."
